Bummed About The Canceled Taco Fest? Here’s A Few More

Just a day after the OKC Ballpark in Bricktown announced they were severing ties and shredding the contract with the Taco Festival organizers set to provide a scowled event this weekend, people are pretty bummed they won't have a chance to immerse themselves into a spiced meat weekend... but there is another.

This Sunday, September 12th, Fiestas Patias is happening at Bicentennial Park in OKC. A shockingly nice city park just two and a half blocks outside Bricktown. It's free and open to the public and runs from 1pm to 10:30pm. It's not a taco and margarita festival though... this is Oklahoma's Mexican and Central American Independence Day Celebration and it's been a big event for a long time. I remember going when I lived there years ago.

Not only are you going to find amazing and authentic eats and drinks while you're there, you'll get to explore new and different cultures as you walk around soaking up the fun... but there are some things to remember.

First off, this is a celebration for Mexican and Central Americans. Odds are English will be the second language. At least it was when I went, and it was a blast. Trying my best to remember high school Spanish often ended up in good laughs and wide smiles. As long as you're not the Karen type, you'll be welcomed like family into the culture.

Second, your kids are going to love every minute of it. Kids love letting their imaginations run wild, and these days with everything going on in the world, let them. Don't get too hung up on trying to get them to try new foods. I know my nephews love going to the Mexican restaurants for their chicken strips. They're adventurous enough to eat the chicken strips at the Chinese restaurants too, and don't even get me started on how much they love the chicken strips at a good, authentic Italian joint. No matter what it is, just tell them "It's chicken strips" and they'll eat it. Let them play dress up, hit the pinata, buy a token of memory they'll keep for at least until the next time they have to clean their room. It'll be a ton of fun.

If you can't make it to this event on Sunday, there is another even bigger event called Fiestas de la Americas taking place on October 2nd in the Historic Capitol Hill neighborhood just South of Downtown OKC. This one features a parade, tons of performances, rich steeped history and of course, amazing eats and drinks. Get the details here.